DPS Officers Participating In Operation Safe Driver

October 15, 2010

Georgia Department of Public Safety
Motor Carrier Compliance Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

GEORGIA DPS OFFICERS PARTICIPATING IN OPERATION SAFE DRIVER

(ATLANTA) - Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Officers and Georgia State Troopers assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit will be on full patrols next week as part of a nationwide crackdown on aggressive and distracted drivers around commercial motor vehicles. Operation Safe Driver begins Sunday and ends Saturday, October 23.

Chief Mark McLeod, Commander of the DPS Motor Carrier Compliance Division, said the goals of the program are to remove unsafe and fatigued driver from the highways; educate commercial vehicle drivers and others about the importance of safe driving and proper driving techniques; and take enforcement action against commercial drivers who fail to buckle up. "Through enforcement and roadside inspections, we want to raise awareness of the motoring public about the hazards of operating around commercial vehicles and of proper steps they can take to enhance safe operations," Chief McLeod said.

In addition to commercial vehicle inspections, MCCD officers and troopers in Georgia will also be patrolling the interstates and state highways watching for unsafe commercial motor vehicles. "Officers will not hesitate to place a commercial vehicle or commercial vehicle driver out of service should the severity of the violation warrant," he said. "The safety of everyone on the highways is paramount."

"The Operation Safe Driver campaign reminds us that it only takes a moment of distraction, inattention or carelessness to trigger a crash with devastating consequences. Every commercial truck and bus driver, and those who share the road with them, have a responsibility to always put safety first," said Anne S. Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Operation Safe Driver is a national awareness and enforcement campaign that targets improving both commercial and non-commercial driver behavior and performance through effective enforcement, education and awareness strategies. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other organizations, are joining together to educate all drivers on the toll risky driving behavior takes on society. The program is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Association, American Trucking Associations, United Motorcoach Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the National District Attorneys Association. The mission of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry, and policymakers.